Umbrella and sheath

ABSTRACT

A collapsible umbrella in combination with a rigid walled sheath, a resilient clip within the sheath adapted to grip one end of the umbrella when the umbrella is collapsed and in the sheath. The stick of the umbrella is telescopic and the retaining force of the clip in the sheath is greater than the force necessary to fully extend the telescopic stick when the stick is pulled from its other end. The sheath has loops fixed to the rigid walls of the sheath for passing a belt therethrough.

United States Patent Weber July 10, 1973 UMBRELLA AND SHEATH 925,043 6/1909 Sheridan 135/33 C l 2 h I 1 Inventor: Heinz Weber, Hilde, Germany 2332,??? 111335 55352;; iii/ 3 4 35 [73] Assignee: Telesco Brophey Limited, Quebec,

Canada Primary Examiner-J. Karl Bell 22 Filed: Jan. 7, 1972 Alwmey-Alan Swabey [21] App]. No.: 216,082

[57] ABSTRACT [30] Fmig APllicaimPrimy A collapsible umbrella in combination with a rigid 9 1971 m y P 21 00 894.6 walled sheath, a resilient clip within the sheath adapted Jan. 9, Germany P to one end of the umbrella when the umbrella is collapsed and in the sheath. The stick of the umbrella {1.8. CI. i o o i i i i i i i i C is and the force of the in heath is greater than the force necessary to ex- Field of Search R, C, tend the telescopic stick when the tick is pulled from 135/37, 44 its other end.

. The sheath has loops fixed to the rigid walls of the- [56] References Clted hethf ss bltth tho h. UNITED STATES PATENTS S a or pa mg a 6 cm r 2,716,994 9/1955 Torricelli 135/33 C 10 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures PATENIEUJUHUIQB I 3.744.502

' -suscnnfz PATENIEU JUL 1 0191s SNEHZNZ FIG 3 UMBRELLA AND SHEATH BACKGROUND OF INVENTION FIELD OF INVENTION The present invention relates to a collapsible umbrella in combination with a sheath, and more'particu- SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an aim of the present invention to provide a sheath for a collapsible umbrella, which in addition to protecting the umbrella, which is stored within the sheath, also functions to assist in the opening of the umbrella.

In a construction in accordance with the present invention, the umbrella sheath is provided with an end wall; rigid side walls; and an open end. The umbrella sheath is provided with a resilient clip within the sheath and is adapted to receive one end of a telscopic umbrella stick adjacent the end wall of the umbrella sheath. The resilient force of the clip engaging the umbrella is greater than the force required to fully extend the telescopic stick of the umbrella when the other end of the stick is pulled.

In one embodiment of the invention, a cap is provided on one end of the telescopic stick and a handle at the other end of the stick, and the cap includes inverted frustoconical walls, while the resilient clip is provided with downwardly and inwardly extending resilient teeth adapted to engage the frusto-conical walls of the cap.

A further embodiment of the invention includes the clip being axially displaceable against the walls of the sheath from a position adjacent the end wall thereof to a position adjacent the open end of the sheath, and shoulder means are provided for limiting the axial displacement of the resilient clip adjacent the open end of the sheath.

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the shoulders adjacent the open end of the sheath are adjacent an annular groove which enables the expansion of the resilient clip to allow the top to be withdrawn from the clip.

In a still further embodiment of the present invention, the teeth of the resilient clip define a frustoconical Since the sheath itself has rigid side walls, it withstands compression, thereby providing the necessary support for this action. If the umbrella being used is the automatic type of umbrella, then the dome of the umbrella may be opened immediately as the stick is fully extended and retrieved from the sheath.

Such an umbrella can be used with advantage for military purposes, either for radiation protection or for camouflage. Of course, if it is used for radiation protection, the cover of the umbrella can be treated accordingly.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Having thus generally described the nature of the in- 5 vention, reference will now be made to the accompany- 0 the handle of the umbrella partially shown;

interrupted wall with a central opening, the frustoconical interrupted wall being in a direction opposite the inverted frusto-conical wall of the cap.

It is contemplated that in a further embodiment of the present invention, the rigid side wall of the sheath be provided with a belt attaching a loop of rigid material fixed to the side wall; and in a still further improvement, a second loop axially aligned with the first loop, but of smaller cross section, is fixed to the side wall.

The sheath assists in the extension of the telescopic umbrella stick since the clip which is engaged to one end of the stick has a retaining force greater than the force required to extend the umbrella stick. Therefore, when the other end of the umbrella is gripped, a pull is given to the umbrella stick fully extending it; while the other end of the stick remains retained by the clip within the sheath. Once it reaches its fully extended position, further pulling on the umbrella stick will cause the other end of the stick to dislodge itself from the retaining clip.

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially on line 2-2 FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary view of the umbrella in an operable position relative to the sheath as it is being withdrawn from the sheath;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal cross section taken along line 44 of FIGQ3;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross section of the closed end of the sheath with the umbrella in a position engaging a retaining ring, the retaining ring being of a different embodiment than that shown in FIGS, 1 to 4;

FIG. 6 is a horizontal cross section taken along line 66 of FIG. 5; I

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged cross section of the sheath showing the end of the umbrella cap in engagement with the retaining clip of still a different embodiment than that shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 and 5; and

FIG. 8 is a horizontal cross section taken along line 88 of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The embodiment shown in the drawings, particularly in FIGS. 1 and 2, shows a sheath 1 which is of tubular shape and closed at one end, and in which an umbrella 2 is collapsed and stored.

The umbrella 2 includes a stick 3 made up of telescopic tubular sections which are not shown, which extend when pulled in the direction of arrow P.

A retaining clip 5 shown in FIGS. 1 to 4 fits within the rigid walls 6 of the sheath 1 and is provided with teeth B spaced apart and connected toan annular ring 11. Each tooth B includes a downwardly and inwardly extending leg 7, a head 12 connected to a web portion 10, which is in turn integral with the ring 11. The-sloping surfaces of the leg 7 terminate in rounded end 7'.

The height H of the ring 1 l is sufficient to provide adequate flexibility in the teeth B; thus the web 10 is thinner in cross section than the leg 7. The head 12 is also provided with a slight projection outwardly thereof engaging the inner surface of the walls 6. It is understood that the ring 11 is also in contact with the walls 6.

Strictly speaking, in the present embodiment, legs'7 are relatively rigid as compared to the web 10 and in the position shown in FIG. 2, the cap 4 on the end of the stick 3, which includes inverted frusto-conical walls is locked therein and could not normally be pulled from the retaining ring since the forces are exerted in the direction of the abutments of the head 12 against the walls 6.' However, if the umbrella stick is pulled by means of the handle 13 in the direction P, the cap will pull the retaining clip axially along the span of FIG. 2 until the projections of head 12 engage the shoulder 16 provided in the wall 6 at the open end of the sheath 1', see FIG. 3. An annular groove 14 is provided in the wall 6 adjacent the abutment shoulder 16. The annular groove 14 merges with the remaining wall 6 by means of the sloped portions 15. I

As the retaining clip 5 moves into the wider space, provided by means of the annular groove 14, the projections of the head 12 are allowed to be displaced radially outwardly into the annular groove 14, thereby causing the webs to flex allowing the cap to pass through the opening between the ends of the legs 7. Projections 12 engage the shoulder 16, thus limiting retaining clip 5 from moving out of the sheath.

In returning the umbrella to the sheath, the reverse sequence is followed, possibly by using the ground as support for the sheath in pushing the umbrella into the sheath.

As can be seen in the drawings, particularly FIGS. 3 and 4, the legs 7 form a funnel-shaped wall defining an opening having a diameter Y which is well adapted to receive the cap 4 of the umbrella. This also enables the centering of the umbrella in the sheath as it is being fitted into the sheath.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 to 8, the retaining clip 5' is provided by means of resilient teeth B which are molded integrally with the end wall 9 and include web portions extending axially of the end wall 9 and include hook-shaped or reverse-sloped legs 7", which in effect form the same funnel-shaped interrupted wall as with the displaceable clip 5 as described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 4. These legs 7" cooperate with the inverted frusto-conical shaped walls 8 of the cap 4 of the umbrella.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 8, the legs 7" slope obliquely outwardly forming an interrupted funnelshaped wall, while the legs 10' converge towards the inverted frustoconical surface 8 of the cap 4.

. In each embodiment, when the cap 4 is pushed to its fullest extent, it lays at 4' flat against the end wall 9 so that all of the available space in the sheath is used.

For military use, the sheath 1 can be provided with double axially-aligned loops 17 and 18 whereby each loop is of different length and is of rigid material similar to that of the sheath. As shown in dotted lines in the drawings, it is possible to pass a belt 19 and, if necessary, a second belt through the second loop 18.

As shown in FIGS. .1 and 2, the loops 17 and 18 are made from a bent fiat strip, the width of which is somewhat more than one-third of the outside diameter of the case.

I claim:

I. An umbrella and sheath, in combination, said umbrella comprising the collapsible type having a telescopic stick including one end insertable into said sheath and another end at which a manual pulling force is normally applied to extend the stick and open the umbrella, said umbrella being insertable into said sheath said one-end-first whereby the umbrella is collapsed and stored in the sheath and the stick is first withdrawn preparatory to opening" the umbrella by applying a pulling force on said other end of the stick while the umbrella is collapsed in the sheath, said sheath having walls and an open end for encasing the collapsed and stored umbrella, permitting the umbrella to be inserted collapsed, withdrawn and extended, and

exposing the other end of the stick when the umbrella is collapsed and stored in the sheath, the improvement comprising: gripping means operatively connected between said stick and the interior of said sheath and including portions normally applying a gripping force to said stick when the umbrella is stored therein, said portions including means operated by forces applied to said stick during insertion and withdrawal of the umbrella with respect to said sheath for substantially automatically operating the telescopic stick when both opening and closing the umbrella with respect to the sheath, said means operated by said forces constructed to apply a gripping force on the stick greater than the force required to extend the stick when th umbrella is withdrawn from the sheath.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said gripping means comprises resilient clip means operatively arranged in said sheath and including portions for releasably engaging, retaining and releasing said stick in response to the forces applied to the other end of said stick.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which said stick include cap means at said one end and handle means at said other end, said resilient clip means being operatively connectable with said cap means.

4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which said sheath comprises relatively rigid side walls.

5. An umbrella and sheath combination wherein the umbrella is of the collapsibe type having a telescopicstick and the sheath has an end wall, rigid side walls and an open end; resilient gripping means provided between one end of the umbrella stick and the interior of the sheath whereby the resilient gripping force is greater than the force required to fully extend the telescopic stick of the umbrella when the other end of the stick is being pulled, the resilient gripping means including a clip arranged within the sheath and adapted to resiliently engage the other end of the stick; and a cap provided at said one end of the umbrella stick and a handle is provided at the other end and the cap is adapted to be engaged by the resilient clip within the sheath.

6. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the length of the rigid side wallsis equal to the length of the stick above the handle when it is fully telescoped and the umbrella is collapsed and within the sheath.

7. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the resilient clip includes an annular ring slidable within a tubular sheath, the annular ring including spaced apart web means extending axially of the ring and inwardly extending legs defining a funnelshaped interrupted wall with a central opening adapted to receive the cap, abutment means at the end of the sheath adjacent the open end of the sheath and provided for limiting the axial movement of the slidable ring.

8. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the cap is of inverted frusto-conical shape opposite to the funnel-shaped wall of the resilient clip.

9. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 5, wherein axially extending teeth are fixed to the end wall on the interior of the sheath and have funnel- 6 shaped legs defining a central opening adapted to resilnating in outwardly extending legs defining a funnelemly the cap of the umbrella shaped interrupted wall and a central opening adapted 10. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim S, wherein the resilient clip includes inwardly con-verging webs extending from the end wall termi- 5 to resiliently engage the cap of the umbrella. 

1. An umbrella and sheath, in combination, said umbrella comprising the collapsible type having a telescopic stick including one end insertable into said sheath and another end at which a manual pulling force is normally applied to extend the stick and ''''open'''' the umbrella, said umbrella being insertable into said sheath said one-end-first whereby the umbrella is collapsed and stored in the sheath and the stick is first withdrawn preparatory to ''''opening'''' the umbrella by applying a pulling force on said other end of the stick while the umbrella is collapsed in the sheath, said sheath having walls and an open end for encasing the collapsed and stored umbrella, permitting the umbrella to be inserted collapsed, withdrawn and extended, and exposing the other end of the stick when the umbrella is collapsed and stored in the sheath, the improvement comprising: gripping means operatively connected between said stick and the interior of said sheath and including portions normally applying a gripping force to said stick when the umbrella is stored therein, said portions including means operated by forces applied to said stick during insertion and withdrawal of the umbrella with respect to said sheath for substantially automatically operating the telescopic stick when both ''''opening'''' and ''''closing'''' the umbrella with respect to the sheath, said means operated by said forces constructed to apply a gripping force on the stick greater than the force required to extend the stick when the umbrella is withdrawn from the sheath.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 in which said gripping means comprises resilient clip means operatively arranged in saId sheath and including portions for releasably engaging, retaining and releasing said stick in response to the forces applied to the other end of said stick.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which said stick include cap means at said one end and handle means at said other end, said resilient clip means being operatively connectable with said cap means.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 2 in which said sheath comprises relatively rigid side walls.
 5. An umbrella and sheath combination wherein the umbrella is of the collapsibe type having a telescopic stick and the sheath has an end wall, rigid side walls and an open end; resilient gripping means provided between one end of the umbrella stick and the interior of the sheath whereby the resilient gripping force is greater than the force required to fully extend the telescopic stick of the umbrella when the other end of the stick is being pulled, the resilient gripping means including a clip arranged within the sheath and adapted to resiliently engage the other end of the stick; and a cap provided at said one end of the umbrella stick and a handle is provided at the other end and the cap is adapted to be engaged by the resilient clip within the sheath.
 6. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the length of the rigid side walls is equal to the length of the stick above the handle when it is fully telescoped and the umbrella is collapsed and within the sheath.
 7. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the resilient clip includes an annular ring slidable within a tubular sheath, the annular ring including spaced apart web means extending axially of the ring and inwardly extending legs defining a funnel-shaped interrupted wall with a central opening adapted to receive the cap, abutment means at the end of the sheath adjacent the open end of the sheath and provided for limiting the axial movement of the slidable ring.
 8. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 7, wherein the cap is of inverted frusto-conical shape opposite to the funnel-shaped wall of the resilient clip.
 9. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 5, wherein axially extending teeth are fixed to the end wall on the interior of the sheath and have funnel-shaped legs defining a central opening adapted to resiliently re-ceive the cap of the umbrella.
 10. An umbrella and sheath combination as defined in claim 5, wherein the resilient clip includes inwardly con-verging webs extending from the end wall terminating in outwardly extending legs defining a funnel-shaped interrupted wall and a central opening adapted to resiliently engage the cap of the umbrella. 